It might not be that obvious, but even in desert climates such as parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, and etcetera mold can be a real problem. One of the most deadly (and most difficult to pronounce) molds lives in the desert areas of the southwestern United States called Coccidioidomycosis immitis. It is also known by the common name of Valley Fever. This causes a skin disease that can be fatal if left untreated. While this mold is present in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, this mold is not present in the deserts of Asia and Africa.
Another reason that mold can be a big problem in desert areas is that people also tend to use what are called swamp coolers to cool their homes and businesses off during the hottest parts of the year. This drives indoor humidity sky high and along with it comes the mold growth that you really do not want inside your building. Leaks are also common occurrences in the water pipes that flow up to the rooftop coolers, which causes water to leak in the ceilings, attics, and walls.
A third reason is that the high heat of the desert can cause the deterioration of roofs and the siding to occur more quickly than in other environments. Water leaking into the house through holes in the roof or the siding on the side of the house will allow mold to begin growing. Do your best if you live in a desert climate to watch for these leaks, since your property is particularly at risk for this kind of damage.
Since water and air conditioning are so important in these areas, the possibility of plumbing and air conditioning condensation leaks is pretty high. The best thing that you can do to prevent air conditioning condensation is to wrap any pipes in insulation so the water does not collect.
Unfortunately, most people do not think that these climates have enough moisture for mold to be a problem, but as said, this is a fairly large misconception. The same techniques used in other environments to combat mold contamination of the home should also be used in desert climates. The majority of mold claims in desert areas are a result of water damage, but mold can also be caused by defects in the construction of a home and sometimes general maintenance issues of the property.
Showing posts with label water damage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label water damage. Show all posts
Monday, January 21, 2008
Bleach and Mold: What You Think You Know
Chlorine bleach isn’t the holy “purify all” that we once thought it was. Mothers and housekeepers all across the country the past century have tended to think that if it needs to be cleaned or disinfected, bleach will do the trick. Most people would think that chlorine bleach will kill mold, but new studies prove that this is not the case. It is not effective in killing mold on porous surfaces like walls of a household, ceiling tiles, and etcetera.
Unless the mold is on top of a counter or a sink, the bleach will do next to nothing to eliminate the mold. A recent study paid for by Clorox, the largest manufacturer in the world of chlorine bleach, says that attempting to kill mold with bleach is best done on hard surfaces only. This means that if you find mold growing on your wall, trying to clean it with chlorine bleach is not going to help because the mold is growing not only on the outside of the wall, but also deeper in the wall than the chemical can reach. Chlorine bleach is too diluted and not strong enough to get rid of mold unless it is on a non-porous surface like tile.
Chlorine bleach is also not a registered disinfectant with the EPA that works with killing mold. The EPA puts a registration number indicating that a product kills mold on any product that does, but you will not be able to find this on any chlorine bleach label.
Another thing that some people are unaware of is the dangerous properties that chlorine bleach can have if it is mixed with other cleaning products such as anything containing ammonia or anything that contains acid. The mixing of these products causes toxic gases to be released into the air in your home and this occurs most often when someone is trying to disinfect something in their home or get rid of disease-causing microorganisms like mold. Mold is serious business, but don’t risk your life by mixing household chemicals trying to find a cheap way to kill the mold that exists in your home.
In addition to being ineffective in killing mold, it also tends to damage and discolor some surfaces it is used on such as metal.
Unless the mold is on top of a counter or a sink, the bleach will do next to nothing to eliminate the mold. A recent study paid for by Clorox, the largest manufacturer in the world of chlorine bleach, says that attempting to kill mold with bleach is best done on hard surfaces only. This means that if you find mold growing on your wall, trying to clean it with chlorine bleach is not going to help because the mold is growing not only on the outside of the wall, but also deeper in the wall than the chemical can reach. Chlorine bleach is too diluted and not strong enough to get rid of mold unless it is on a non-porous surface like tile.
Chlorine bleach is also not a registered disinfectant with the EPA that works with killing mold. The EPA puts a registration number indicating that a product kills mold on any product that does, but you will not be able to find this on any chlorine bleach label.
Another thing that some people are unaware of is the dangerous properties that chlorine bleach can have if it is mixed with other cleaning products such as anything containing ammonia or anything that contains acid. The mixing of these products causes toxic gases to be released into the air in your home and this occurs most often when someone is trying to disinfect something in their home or get rid of disease-causing microorganisms like mold. Mold is serious business, but don’t risk your life by mixing household chemicals trying to find a cheap way to kill the mold that exists in your home.
In addition to being ineffective in killing mold, it also tends to damage and discolor some surfaces it is used on such as metal.
Stachybotrys Mold And You
We all know mold causes health damage, but one mold in particular called Stachybotrys chartarum can be extremely dangerous. Stachybotrys is the mold that most people think about when they think of “black mold” and for good reason.
Stachybotrys (sometimes called simply “stachy”) grows on water damaged wood and paper, but where it does not grow is plastic, the tiles in our kitchens and bathrooms, and concrete. Wood and water that has gotten wet and allowed to dry that way will become infected with the mold and it will spread to other areas in your house. It requires almost constant moisture in order to grow and thrive. Wet clothing tossed in the backs of closets and forgotten about is often found to have mold growing upon it. Stachy mold is usually a greenish-black, wet, and slimy when found and it requires cellulose products like paper, wood, and cotton in order to grow long term. Although the spores of wet mold do not easily enter the air, if the mold is allowed to dry out, it becomes more of a health hazard.
While stachy mold is not the only kind or even really the most common kind of mold found growing in these conditions, it is still one of the most dangerous kinds of mold to allow in your home or office because it kills brain cells and has similar symptoms to Alzheimer’s Disease. If you or anyone in your home are experiencing disorientation, memory loss, and the inability to think logically at times and are not at the age to be at risk for Alzheimer’s, a test for mold should be done to determine if this is the cause.
Common health complications due to exposure to this mold include asthma, pneumonitis, skin rashes, bloody noses, headaches, and other respiratory problems. Prolonged exposure can cause internal bleeding of the lungs, kidney failure, and liver failure. Pulmonary emphysema can also be caused by prolonged exposure to this and other black molds.
This mold is particularly likely to show up in homes or buildings that have been flooded or extensively water damaged and areas where constant leaks are present, such as water pipes and hot water heaters. Just touching this mold can cause skin rashes and because of the excessive health risks associated with it, it is often recommended that only trained mold removal specialists should be used to remove it from a home or building where it is present.
Stachybotrys (sometimes called simply “stachy”) grows on water damaged wood and paper, but where it does not grow is plastic, the tiles in our kitchens and bathrooms, and concrete. Wood and water that has gotten wet and allowed to dry that way will become infected with the mold and it will spread to other areas in your house. It requires almost constant moisture in order to grow and thrive. Wet clothing tossed in the backs of closets and forgotten about is often found to have mold growing upon it. Stachy mold is usually a greenish-black, wet, and slimy when found and it requires cellulose products like paper, wood, and cotton in order to grow long term. Although the spores of wet mold do not easily enter the air, if the mold is allowed to dry out, it becomes more of a health hazard.
While stachy mold is not the only kind or even really the most common kind of mold found growing in these conditions, it is still one of the most dangerous kinds of mold to allow in your home or office because it kills brain cells and has similar symptoms to Alzheimer’s Disease. If you or anyone in your home are experiencing disorientation, memory loss, and the inability to think logically at times and are not at the age to be at risk for Alzheimer’s, a test for mold should be done to determine if this is the cause.
Common health complications due to exposure to this mold include asthma, pneumonitis, skin rashes, bloody noses, headaches, and other respiratory problems. Prolonged exposure can cause internal bleeding of the lungs, kidney failure, and liver failure. Pulmonary emphysema can also be caused by prolonged exposure to this and other black molds.
This mold is particularly likely to show up in homes or buildings that have been flooded or extensively water damaged and areas where constant leaks are present, such as water pipes and hot water heaters. Just touching this mold can cause skin rashes and because of the excessive health risks associated with it, it is often recommended that only trained mold removal specialists should be used to remove it from a home or building where it is present.
Step Two of Drying Out Water Damaged Properties
The second half of the drying process of water damaged homes or buildings should begin by removing any water damaged items from the home like furniture, paintings, photographs, and etcetera and allowing them to dry out outside the home. Squeeze as much water as possible out of couch cushions and try to leave them outside in the sun for as little time as possible, because sun damage can also occur if they’re left exposed for too long.
If the floors of your home are covered in mud or silt, washing them with clean water is usually the only solution. Don’t rush the drying of the floors or what is called warping or buckling and if you can, remove any insulation from under the floor to allow air to circulate. Rapid drying of hardwood floors by using heating, air conditioning, or other forced air to help dry the floors can cause cupping. Completely drying them naturally can take weeks or months.
Any electrical components in the house, like AC outlets, should be replaced if the water level was high enough to damage them. Again, make sure there is no electricity running to that area of your building or even to the entire building itself. When dealing with flooded properties, the possibility of electrocution is great.
Don’t be so quick to remove all the water in your basement. The walls of the basement could collapse due to the ground outside that is still saturated with water and the water still standing in your basement could be the only thing stopping this. After the water around the house has drained away, pump out two or three feet, mark the water level, and wait until the next day. If the water level in the basement rises, don’t continue pumping out the water.
In most cases, washing wet mud away from objects with clean water before drying them is a good idea. Unless it’s an antique item of special significance, this is generally the way to go. If it does fall into the category of antique or historic, consult a specialist as quickly as possible.
Air circulation through the building is essential to drying it out entirely. Heaters should not be used and air conditioners should be used sparingly, if at all. Forcing the building to dry unnaturally can possibly cause even more damage.
If the floors of your home are covered in mud or silt, washing them with clean water is usually the only solution. Don’t rush the drying of the floors or what is called warping or buckling and if you can, remove any insulation from under the floor to allow air to circulate. Rapid drying of hardwood floors by using heating, air conditioning, or other forced air to help dry the floors can cause cupping. Completely drying them naturally can take weeks or months.
Any electrical components in the house, like AC outlets, should be replaced if the water level was high enough to damage them. Again, make sure there is no electricity running to that area of your building or even to the entire building itself. When dealing with flooded properties, the possibility of electrocution is great.
Don’t be so quick to remove all the water in your basement. The walls of the basement could collapse due to the ground outside that is still saturated with water and the water still standing in your basement could be the only thing stopping this. After the water around the house has drained away, pump out two or three feet, mark the water level, and wait until the next day. If the water level in the basement rises, don’t continue pumping out the water.
In most cases, washing wet mud away from objects with clean water before drying them is a good idea. Unless it’s an antique item of special significance, this is generally the way to go. If it does fall into the category of antique or historic, consult a specialist as quickly as possible.
Air circulation through the building is essential to drying it out entirely. Heaters should not be used and air conditioners should be used sparingly, if at all. Forcing the building to dry unnaturally can possibly cause even more damage.
Water Damage Prevention in the Kitchen and Bathroom
If you’re looking to prevent water damage to your home, it might take a little effort, but it’ll be worth it in the long run. Here are a few ways to help prevent water damage in your kitchen and bathroom.
Checking for hidden water leaks in your home is pretty easy and it’s very possible that you have one in your house. Turn off all appliances that use water, go outside and take note of what your water meter says, and leave the appliances off (don’t use any water at all) for at least one hour. After the hour is up, check the water meter again to see if the reading has changed. If it has, you probably have a leak.
Check underneath your dishwasher to see if the line that goes to it from the water pipes isn’t leaking. If there is standing water near the base of the dishwasher, you have a leak. Another way to check for leaks here is to check if any of the materials around the dishwasher are discolored or warped in any way.
Your refrigerator is often a culprit of water damage, as well, especially refrigerators with built in ice makers. Sometimes the line to the ice maker bursts or ice builds up near the bottom of the door and keeps it from shutting all the way, resulting in items in your freezer thawing. Make sure the line to the ice maker is connected firmly and does not leak.
Sinks often need to be re-caulked around to prevent water damage under the sink and on top of the counter.
In the bathroom, soft spots in the floors near the edge of the tub or shower along with discoloration is a sure sign of water damage. Re-caulking where the walls meet the floor or where the walls meet the tub can help solve the problem. If you have tiled areas in your bathroom, cracks in grout or areas where it is missing can also cause damage.
The overflow of toilets is an obvious cause of water damage, even if it doesn’t happen that often. Putting too much toilet paper into toilets or other objects into the toilet can cause it to back up. Deodorants that hang inside the toilet bowl are something that causes blocks in the plumbing, can block the line completely, and if it is chlorine-based, can cause the pipes to rust and lead to an additional leak.
Checking for hidden water leaks in your home is pretty easy and it’s very possible that you have one in your house. Turn off all appliances that use water, go outside and take note of what your water meter says, and leave the appliances off (don’t use any water at all) for at least one hour. After the hour is up, check the water meter again to see if the reading has changed. If it has, you probably have a leak.
Check underneath your dishwasher to see if the line that goes to it from the water pipes isn’t leaking. If there is standing water near the base of the dishwasher, you have a leak. Another way to check for leaks here is to check if any of the materials around the dishwasher are discolored or warped in any way.
Your refrigerator is often a culprit of water damage, as well, especially refrigerators with built in ice makers. Sometimes the line to the ice maker bursts or ice builds up near the bottom of the door and keeps it from shutting all the way, resulting in items in your freezer thawing. Make sure the line to the ice maker is connected firmly and does not leak.
Sinks often need to be re-caulked around to prevent water damage under the sink and on top of the counter.
In the bathroom, soft spots in the floors near the edge of the tub or shower along with discoloration is a sure sign of water damage. Re-caulking where the walls meet the floor or where the walls meet the tub can help solve the problem. If you have tiled areas in your bathroom, cracks in grout or areas where it is missing can also cause damage.
The overflow of toilets is an obvious cause of water damage, even if it doesn’t happen that often. Putting too much toilet paper into toilets or other objects into the toilet can cause it to back up. Deodorants that hang inside the toilet bowl are something that causes blocks in the plumbing, can block the line completely, and if it is chlorine-based, can cause the pipes to rust and lead to an additional leak.
What Causes Water Damage to Your Home?
Everyone knows that water damage to any property, whether it’s commercial or residential, is bad, but not everyone is aware of all of the different factors that can allow it to occur. There are obvious causes of water damage that most people know about like plumbing leaks and leaking roofs, but what about some of the other less common causes?
Basement walls insulated with fiberglass tend to be a problem because moisture becomes trapped behind them and the air leaks that can happen in between one floor of the home and the next or even the attic. Fiberglass absorbs water and so installing fiberglass insulation in basements is not a good idea. Installing plastic sheeting inside the wall isn’t the answer, either, because this also traps moisture.
Using blue board insulation is a bit better if you’re going to insulate your basement because this insulation allows moisture to move freely through the wall and allows it to dry out.
If the land around the home is sloped toward the home’s foundation, this can cause problems, too. Water doesn’t flow away from the home as it should and can seep into the basement or weaken the foundation and cause the house to sink slowly into the ground.
If you live in a colder climate, you should be careful to have your ceilings insulated properly because if it isn’t, it can cause what are called “ice dams” and water will leak into the house. Moisture that leaks up into the attic in the form of steam or humidity can attach itself to the inside of the roofing and cause it to not only rot, but mold to grow upon it, as well.
In warmer climates, water damage can occur due to flaws in the air conditioner or the air ducts.
Attic hatches that are not properly sealed when shut are a cause of water damage inside attics and on ceilings. Light fixtures in the home should be airtight when they are installed, especially if they are the recessed kind and exhaust fans that aren’t directed outside the house, but only into the attic can be a problem, too, whether they are from the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room. Any exhaust fan should have a vent to the outside of the home so moisture doesn’t collect, condense, and cause the water damage you are trying to avoid.
Basement walls insulated with fiberglass tend to be a problem because moisture becomes trapped behind them and the air leaks that can happen in between one floor of the home and the next or even the attic. Fiberglass absorbs water and so installing fiberglass insulation in basements is not a good idea. Installing plastic sheeting inside the wall isn’t the answer, either, because this also traps moisture.
Using blue board insulation is a bit better if you’re going to insulate your basement because this insulation allows moisture to move freely through the wall and allows it to dry out.
If the land around the home is sloped toward the home’s foundation, this can cause problems, too. Water doesn’t flow away from the home as it should and can seep into the basement or weaken the foundation and cause the house to sink slowly into the ground.
If you live in a colder climate, you should be careful to have your ceilings insulated properly because if it isn’t, it can cause what are called “ice dams” and water will leak into the house. Moisture that leaks up into the attic in the form of steam or humidity can attach itself to the inside of the roofing and cause it to not only rot, but mold to grow upon it, as well.
In warmer climates, water damage can occur due to flaws in the air conditioner or the air ducts.
Attic hatches that are not properly sealed when shut are a cause of water damage inside attics and on ceilings. Light fixtures in the home should be airtight when they are installed, especially if they are the recessed kind and exhaust fans that aren’t directed outside the house, but only into the attic can be a problem, too, whether they are from the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room. Any exhaust fan should have a vent to the outside of the home so moisture doesn’t collect, condense, and cause the water damage you are trying to avoid.
Employees, Tenants, and Mold
As if mold invading our homes wasn’t enough, it also invades other buildings such as the places where we work. Anyone who owns a rental property or hires employees to work in a building that he or she owns must ensure that the building is free and clear of mold infestations not only because this can cause significant structural damage, but because they can be held legally liable for any and all medical bills associated with mold health complications resulting from working in a mold infested environment.
The list of health complications that can be blamed on mold are almost endless. You’d have a better chance of picking a winning roulette number than you would of guessing the health effect(s) mold will cause in you. You can become sick with anything from chronic dandruff, skin rashes, to bleeding in your lungs and aspergilloma (fungus balls that grow in cavities within the body). The list of conditions caused by or aggravated by mold is longer than can be listed here. What can employers and landlords do to ensure the safety of their workers and tenants?
First of all, take the claims that mold exist on the property seriously. Check out the areas where your workers or tenants claim mold exist yourself and if you see even the slightest evidence that they could be right, you should be quick to have a professional test for mold. If the test comes back as positive, you’re required to inform your workers that mold exists on the property and when remediation of it will begin and a general idea of when it will be concluded. As soon as the property has had the mold removed, you need to have another test done to prove that the mold is gone. Getting your employees back to work and your tenants back in their rental as soon as you can will restart your cash flow.
You should encourage any of your employees that suffer health effects that could be attributed to the mold in your workplace or your rental property to see a doctor. Any mold infestation that you detect should be dealt with as quickly as possible because you can be held responsible for more than just their medical bills associated with the mold. If they’re your tenants, you can also be held responsible for their relocation bills and moving expenses.
The list of health complications that can be blamed on mold are almost endless. You’d have a better chance of picking a winning roulette number than you would of guessing the health effect(s) mold will cause in you. You can become sick with anything from chronic dandruff, skin rashes, to bleeding in your lungs and aspergilloma (fungus balls that grow in cavities within the body). The list of conditions caused by or aggravated by mold is longer than can be listed here. What can employers and landlords do to ensure the safety of their workers and tenants?
First of all, take the claims that mold exist on the property seriously. Check out the areas where your workers or tenants claim mold exist yourself and if you see even the slightest evidence that they could be right, you should be quick to have a professional test for mold. If the test comes back as positive, you’re required to inform your workers that mold exists on the property and when remediation of it will begin and a general idea of when it will be concluded. As soon as the property has had the mold removed, you need to have another test done to prove that the mold is gone. Getting your employees back to work and your tenants back in their rental as soon as you can will restart your cash flow.
You should encourage any of your employees that suffer health effects that could be attributed to the mold in your workplace or your rental property to see a doctor. Any mold infestation that you detect should be dealt with as quickly as possible because you can be held responsible for more than just their medical bills associated with the mold. If they’re your tenants, you can also be held responsible for their relocation bills and moving expenses.
What To Know When Hiring Your Contractor
The most important decision that you will make when you build your new home is which contractor you will choose for the job. A lot of people like to use the phone book for this job, but going a little deeper than that and putting a little more effort into choosing your contractor will end up saving you a lot of headaches and money.
Using the phone book to find the contractor you want is not entirely a bad idea. For someone moving to a new area, it is often one of the most feasible options. Having the ability to ask friends or neighbors about a good contractor is usually not available when you move to a new area, so you need to take some precautions when looking in the phone book for a contractor. Get at least three bids from three different contractors to build your property. Make sure they all get the same blueprints and look at the offers in comparison to each other. If one offer is significantly lower than the other two, this is usually a sign of desperation for work (not always a bad thing) and inexperience. Do a little research on the contractor that bid the lowest price and check up on his references. Giving someone who is well experienced and desperate for work is always a good idea, as long as you are sure that they are a good fit for you. Make sure you can live with this contractor being in your life for a few weeks or months. You need to have a good relationship.
As far as the contract that you will have, you should almost always go with a fixed price contract. This means that if there are unexpected costs that come up, the contractor will take care of them, not you. Building materials may change in price or the price of labor may go up and if you sign a time and materials contract, you will be responsible for making up for these new costs.
When writing up the contract, be specific. The date the project will begin and approximate date that it should be done needs to be in the contract. Make up a list of materials that you want to be used in the home. If you want 12 inch by 12 inch travertine tile, specify this. As with any important financial decision in your life, the devil is in the details.
Give your contractor an incentive to get the job done right and done early by offering a bonus if he does so. On the same token, do not be afraid to threaten a penalty if the project is done badly or finished late. All contractors should give you a warranty on their work that should be for at least 10 years.
Using the phone book to find the contractor you want is not entirely a bad idea. For someone moving to a new area, it is often one of the most feasible options. Having the ability to ask friends or neighbors about a good contractor is usually not available when you move to a new area, so you need to take some precautions when looking in the phone book for a contractor. Get at least three bids from three different contractors to build your property. Make sure they all get the same blueprints and look at the offers in comparison to each other. If one offer is significantly lower than the other two, this is usually a sign of desperation for work (not always a bad thing) and inexperience. Do a little research on the contractor that bid the lowest price and check up on his references. Giving someone who is well experienced and desperate for work is always a good idea, as long as you are sure that they are a good fit for you. Make sure you can live with this contractor being in your life for a few weeks or months. You need to have a good relationship.
As far as the contract that you will have, you should almost always go with a fixed price contract. This means that if there are unexpected costs that come up, the contractor will take care of them, not you. Building materials may change in price or the price of labor may go up and if you sign a time and materials contract, you will be responsible for making up for these new costs.
When writing up the contract, be specific. The date the project will begin and approximate date that it should be done needs to be in the contract. Make up a list of materials that you want to be used in the home. If you want 12 inch by 12 inch travertine tile, specify this. As with any important financial decision in your life, the devil is in the details.
Give your contractor an incentive to get the job done right and done early by offering a bonus if he does so. On the same token, do not be afraid to threaten a penalty if the project is done badly or finished late. All contractors should give you a warranty on their work that should be for at least 10 years.
Water Smart Bathroom Remodeling Made Easy
While the bathroom is usually not considered the soul of a house, it is still an important room that is visited by all members of the household at least twice a day. Anyone wanting to renovate their bathroom should go ahead and take all the advice given here into account as they plan their project so they maximize the value that it will add to the home. There are a few different things you need to be sure of when you go to renovate the bathroom and minimize the amount of possible future water damage.
Water is both the friend and enemy of your bathroom, since water can cause a considerable amount of damage if the area is not prepared to deal with it properly. If you are remodeling a bathroom, make sure that there is an exhaust fan in the ceiling to vent steam out of the room during showers and baths. Humidity buildup in a tight space made of porous materials like drywall is a bad idea, since these will become discolored and molded fairly quickly if it is not kept in check. Mold loves to live in the wettest areas of your home, so it is in your best interests to make sure that the bathroom stays as dry as possible.
You also need to be sure that everything in the bathroom gets sealed properly by the contractor that you hire to do it. If you remodel it yourself, you should do your research and make sure that you know what you are doing. Tile that is not sealed correctly will allow water underneath it and this will cause damage to the floors over time.
Depending on the age of the house and the condition of the plumbing behind the walls, you may want to replace the plumbing with newer material. Check it for possible leaks and do not hesitate to replace the plumbing if you are having doubts.
Try to make sure that your toilet does not overflow very often. Even though the tile underneath it should be sealed completely to keep water from getting to the floor underneath, you should not take chances. If you choose to have carpet in the bathroom instead (bad idea), you will need to be even more careful.
The plumbing underneath the sink also needs to be checked out. Depending on the condition of the vanity and what it is made of, you may want to replace it to add some more value to the room.
Water is both the friend and enemy of your bathroom, since water can cause a considerable amount of damage if the area is not prepared to deal with it properly. If you are remodeling a bathroom, make sure that there is an exhaust fan in the ceiling to vent steam out of the room during showers and baths. Humidity buildup in a tight space made of porous materials like drywall is a bad idea, since these will become discolored and molded fairly quickly if it is not kept in check. Mold loves to live in the wettest areas of your home, so it is in your best interests to make sure that the bathroom stays as dry as possible.
You also need to be sure that everything in the bathroom gets sealed properly by the contractor that you hire to do it. If you remodel it yourself, you should do your research and make sure that you know what you are doing. Tile that is not sealed correctly will allow water underneath it and this will cause damage to the floors over time.
Depending on the age of the house and the condition of the plumbing behind the walls, you may want to replace the plumbing with newer material. Check it for possible leaks and do not hesitate to replace the plumbing if you are having doubts.
Try to make sure that your toilet does not overflow very often. Even though the tile underneath it should be sealed completely to keep water from getting to the floor underneath, you should not take chances. If you choose to have carpet in the bathroom instead (bad idea), you will need to be even more careful.
The plumbing underneath the sink also needs to be checked out. Depending on the condition of the vanity and what it is made of, you may want to replace it to add some more value to the room.
Can You Deal With Smoke And Water Damage After A Fire
Most homeowners think that when they are dealing with a house fire, the only type of damage to the property that they will have to contend with is fire damage. This is not always true, since something that is almost always used to put out a house fire is water. Any excess amount of water in your home can cause water damage to the structure, any appliances, and furniture inside and since a fire truck can hold countless gallons, you will likely see this after the fire has been put out and you re-enter your home.
Talk to your fire marshal and make sure that your home is safe to return to after the fire is over. If you see standing water in any portion of the house, cut the electricity off before you go into it, since you could be electrocuted by venturing inside before it is cut off. Do what you can to remove as much of the water from the house as possible before mold starts to grow on anything. If you have food in the freezer that is still sealed, take these and put them into another freezer at a friend’s home.
Whatever you do, do not allow any children or pets back into the house until the rehabilitation inside the house is finished. Pay attention to the health of your pets, as well, after the fire is over and make sure that they get any care that they may require. Birds will need special attention, since they do not respond well to environmental changes.
Do not use an upright vacuum cleaner to clean the soot and ash from your carpet. The brushes on the bottom of these will only drive this debris further into the fabric. You should also not use one on upholstered furniture for the same reason. After you vacuum floors and furniture, you should not walk on them and if you have to, tarp should be laid down over them.
Smoke damage on the ceilings and upper walls will need to be painted over. Trying to wash this off the walls usually does not work and only smears the stain around. Painting over this is the only efficient option.
Food that was opened inside the house when the fire started needs to be thrown out. Do not eat anything that had the seal on it broken, whether in the refrigerator or on the counter, such as chips.
Talk to your fire marshal and make sure that your home is safe to return to after the fire is over. If you see standing water in any portion of the house, cut the electricity off before you go into it, since you could be electrocuted by venturing inside before it is cut off. Do what you can to remove as much of the water from the house as possible before mold starts to grow on anything. If you have food in the freezer that is still sealed, take these and put them into another freezer at a friend’s home.
Whatever you do, do not allow any children or pets back into the house until the rehabilitation inside the house is finished. Pay attention to the health of your pets, as well, after the fire is over and make sure that they get any care that they may require. Birds will need special attention, since they do not respond well to environmental changes.
Do not use an upright vacuum cleaner to clean the soot and ash from your carpet. The brushes on the bottom of these will only drive this debris further into the fabric. You should also not use one on upholstered furniture for the same reason. After you vacuum floors and furniture, you should not walk on them and if you have to, tarp should be laid down over them.
Smoke damage on the ceilings and upper walls will need to be painted over. Trying to wash this off the walls usually does not work and only smears the stain around. Painting over this is the only efficient option.
Food that was opened inside the house when the fire started needs to be thrown out. Do not eat anything that had the seal on it broken, whether in the refrigerator or on the counter, such as chips.
Remodeling Your Bathroom After Having Water Damage
Remodeling your bathroom after some water damage can be quite a hassle, but knowing that the new renovations will stand the test of time and add a good amount of value to your home can make the whole project worth it.
One thing that you will need to do, especially in bathrooms where carpet was installed, is make sure that the floor boards and support beams are not water damaged to the point that they are rotten. Replacing floor boards can be expensive, but if you are remodeling, you do not want to have a good looking job on top of an unstable foundation. Knowing that the floor is not going to collapse underneath you brings a lot of peace of mind to you and the rest of your family. Spare no expense on the floor to make sure that it is structurally sound.
Installing tile is not the hardest thing to do in the bathroom, but you really need to make sure that it is done correctly. If it is done badly, water will get right back underneath the tiles and will begin damaging the floor underneath immediately. Having a properly sealed floor in the bathroom is essential if you want to make sure that the floor boards do not become water damaged again any time soon.
The most important areas of the bathroom floor that need to be sealed are around the bath tub and the toilet. These items are more likely to overflow from time to time than the bathroom sink and the areas around them need to be very water tight.
Make sure that the plumbing that you have installed is made completely water tight. You really do not want to have leaks inside the walls where they are obviously difficult to get to. You will have to take out drywall or even possibly tile to get to leaks in the wall sometimes, so make sure whoever you hire to do it does the job correctly.
Every bathroom needs to have an exhaust fan in the ceiling or on the upper portion of a wall so the steam produced by showers and baths does not collect on the ceiling. Not only can this collecting discolor the ceiling over time, but it can also allow mold to start growing in a relatively short period of time.
If you are going to have a shower stall that is enclosed around the ceiling, it will need to have its own exhaust vent and light, since steam will not be allowed to escape the shower stall very easily.
One thing that you will need to do, especially in bathrooms where carpet was installed, is make sure that the floor boards and support beams are not water damaged to the point that they are rotten. Replacing floor boards can be expensive, but if you are remodeling, you do not want to have a good looking job on top of an unstable foundation. Knowing that the floor is not going to collapse underneath you brings a lot of peace of mind to you and the rest of your family. Spare no expense on the floor to make sure that it is structurally sound.
Installing tile is not the hardest thing to do in the bathroom, but you really need to make sure that it is done correctly. If it is done badly, water will get right back underneath the tiles and will begin damaging the floor underneath immediately. Having a properly sealed floor in the bathroom is essential if you want to make sure that the floor boards do not become water damaged again any time soon.
The most important areas of the bathroom floor that need to be sealed are around the bath tub and the toilet. These items are more likely to overflow from time to time than the bathroom sink and the areas around them need to be very water tight.
Make sure that the plumbing that you have installed is made completely water tight. You really do not want to have leaks inside the walls where they are obviously difficult to get to. You will have to take out drywall or even possibly tile to get to leaks in the wall sometimes, so make sure whoever you hire to do it does the job correctly.
Every bathroom needs to have an exhaust fan in the ceiling or on the upper portion of a wall so the steam produced by showers and baths does not collect on the ceiling. Not only can this collecting discolor the ceiling over time, but it can also allow mold to start growing in a relatively short period of time.
If you are going to have a shower stall that is enclosed around the ceiling, it will need to have its own exhaust vent and light, since steam will not be allowed to escape the shower stall very easily.
Do You Know These Tips To Keep Your Basement Dry
Most homeowners do not consider the basement a very important part of the house, but since the rest of your home’s structure is on top of this, you might want to rethink just how valuable of a room this is. Whether you use it for storage, a guest bedroom, laundry room, or anything else you can think of, it is important to make sure that this room of the house remains structurally sound.
While it is a common problem, wet basements are something that most homeowners do not have to deal with if they take some precautions and the time to make some adjustments on their own. Many wet basement issues can be fixed by the homeowner without having to hire any outside help.
You can fix any cracks in the concrete walls of your basement where water is leaking in by using a simple injection of concrete. Doing this used to require expensive and heavy equipment, but the size and expense of this has gone down so significantly that you can now do it with a normal caulking gun. Do not try do this with the silicone caulking that you would use in a bathroom or kitchen or attempt to fix it with cement, either. These two items will only become loose and fall out, no longer forming the water barrier that you need to have in place.
If water is forming in puddles around the foundation of your house, then you probably need to pile some more soil around the house so the water runs away from the house instead of leaking down into the basement. Installing a drainage system can also help with this. Making sure your rain gutters stay cleaned out is also another thing that you can do to try and keep water out of your basement. While they seem unrelated, gutters that are clogged let water merely fall off the roof and down to the base of the house.
You can also choose to install a dehumidifier and some energy efficient windows. You will know that you have a humidity problem in the room if condensation builds up on the window panes. Putting in an exhaust vent down there can also help reduce the humidity, especially if you use the area as a laundry room or an extra bathroom. This helps prevent the steam from being absorbed by the rafters or the drywall ceiling.
While it is a common problem, wet basements are something that most homeowners do not have to deal with if they take some precautions and the time to make some adjustments on their own. Many wet basement issues can be fixed by the homeowner without having to hire any outside help.
You can fix any cracks in the concrete walls of your basement where water is leaking in by using a simple injection of concrete. Doing this used to require expensive and heavy equipment, but the size and expense of this has gone down so significantly that you can now do it with a normal caulking gun. Do not try do this with the silicone caulking that you would use in a bathroom or kitchen or attempt to fix it with cement, either. These two items will only become loose and fall out, no longer forming the water barrier that you need to have in place.
If water is forming in puddles around the foundation of your house, then you probably need to pile some more soil around the house so the water runs away from the house instead of leaking down into the basement. Installing a drainage system can also help with this. Making sure your rain gutters stay cleaned out is also another thing that you can do to try and keep water out of your basement. While they seem unrelated, gutters that are clogged let water merely fall off the roof and down to the base of the house.
You can also choose to install a dehumidifier and some energy efficient windows. You will know that you have a humidity problem in the room if condensation builds up on the window panes. Putting in an exhaust vent down there can also help reduce the humidity, especially if you use the area as a laundry room or an extra bathroom. This helps prevent the steam from being absorbed by the rafters or the drywall ceiling.
Sewage Damage Can Put Your Home In A Stink
There are only a few things that bring a more unpleasant image to the mind of a person than the idea of sewage and coming into contact with it. If the area where you live has been flooded recently, you may need to deal with that very thing as you are allowed to go back to your home after the waters have receded, since it is often the case that these very waters are contaminated with it, among other unpleasant items. Sewage, chemicals, decaying bodies, and other things may be lurking in the flood water that has overrun your home, so cleaning it out of the nooks and crannies of your home is going to be quite the task. If you are prepared, however, you can save a lot of money by doing most of the cleanup yourself.
Everything in the house needs to be taken outside, especially wet furniture. Unfortunately, your upholstered furniture will not be salvageable unless there is little padding, such as the upholstery on some dining chairs. Large items like couches and recliners will need to be thrown away 95% of the time because the padding will soak up sewage, soil, and chemicals, causing it to become a biological hazard. These items are very difficult to completely disinfect and you will waste much time and money trying to do so. Replacing them is your best bet.
Cloth items in the tops of closets that did not come into contact with the water can become molded simply because of the humidity in the house. This typically starts after about 3 or 4 days, since they were not actually soaked by the flood. Get these items out and wash them as soon as you can, but not in your home’s washer, since it was probably flooded, too. Do not use your household appliances until they have been checked for electrical damage. Take anything you need to wash to a Laundromat.
Mold can start growing on textiles and other materials within about 48 hours after they have gotten wet. You can save these items most of the time, but they may be stained. Cleaning molded items made of real leather, however, is not possible.
Scrubbing your floors can be done by taking a couple of buckets, one with cleaning water and the other with rinsing water, and being sure not to contaminate the clean water with sewage. Do not put the sponge or mop back into the clean water without rinsing it first. Replace the rinsing water as often as you need to.
Everything in the house needs to be taken outside, especially wet furniture. Unfortunately, your upholstered furniture will not be salvageable unless there is little padding, such as the upholstery on some dining chairs. Large items like couches and recliners will need to be thrown away 95% of the time because the padding will soak up sewage, soil, and chemicals, causing it to become a biological hazard. These items are very difficult to completely disinfect and you will waste much time and money trying to do so. Replacing them is your best bet.
Cloth items in the tops of closets that did not come into contact with the water can become molded simply because of the humidity in the house. This typically starts after about 3 or 4 days, since they were not actually soaked by the flood. Get these items out and wash them as soon as you can, but not in your home’s washer, since it was probably flooded, too. Do not use your household appliances until they have been checked for electrical damage. Take anything you need to wash to a Laundromat.
Mold can start growing on textiles and other materials within about 48 hours after they have gotten wet. You can save these items most of the time, but they may be stained. Cleaning molded items made of real leather, however, is not possible.
Scrubbing your floors can be done by taking a couple of buckets, one with cleaning water and the other with rinsing water, and being sure not to contaminate the clean water with sewage. Do not put the sponge or mop back into the clean water without rinsing it first. Replace the rinsing water as often as you need to.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Taking Care of Your Water Pipes
Living in your first home can be an exhilarating experience, but when the winter gets to your area, you may forget about some things that you can do to keep your water pipes from bursting. In fact, you may not think of this at all, since you are probably not used to maintaining a home that belongs to you. Your home is an investment and you should take care of it as much as you can, since you may want to sell it later in exchange for another. Your parents probably insulated the pipes in your home when you were younger, but you probably did not really get the significance of this at the time.
When it gets colder than 20 degrees outside, the water pipes that are exposed to these temperatures are likely to freeze and burst. If you are not home at the time, like off on vacation for Christmas or another holiday, this can wreak havoc on your water bill if you do not get home and fix the problem soon and it can also cause a significant amount of water damage to your home in the process.
Any pipes that will be exposed to this weather that you can get to should be insulated in some way. You can do this by wrapping them in cloth or preferably a construction grade of insulation. A good amount of cloth will help in a pinch, though.
Inside your home, the pipes underneath the different sinks in the house can be kept warm by opening the cabinets so the heat in the house can get to them. Keeping a space heater near exposed pipes in your basement could also be a good idea, but use extreme caution when using space heaters, since they can catch on fire. You can use an extension cord with a space heater, but it needs to be a pretty heavy duty one and most homes do not keep extension cords as heavy duty as the kind needed around often. Place space heaters in your home very carefully and if possible, do not use them on carpeted surfaces.
You can also leave a trickle of water running out of the faucets when the temperatures outside get this low. It might add a little bit to the water bill, but it is only necessary to do this when the temperature gets below freezing, especially at night.
When it gets colder than 20 degrees outside, the water pipes that are exposed to these temperatures are likely to freeze and burst. If you are not home at the time, like off on vacation for Christmas or another holiday, this can wreak havoc on your water bill if you do not get home and fix the problem soon and it can also cause a significant amount of water damage to your home in the process.
Any pipes that will be exposed to this weather that you can get to should be insulated in some way. You can do this by wrapping them in cloth or preferably a construction grade of insulation. A good amount of cloth will help in a pinch, though.
Inside your home, the pipes underneath the different sinks in the house can be kept warm by opening the cabinets so the heat in the house can get to them. Keeping a space heater near exposed pipes in your basement could also be a good idea, but use extreme caution when using space heaters, since they can catch on fire. You can use an extension cord with a space heater, but it needs to be a pretty heavy duty one and most homes do not keep extension cords as heavy duty as the kind needed around often. Place space heaters in your home very carefully and if possible, do not use them on carpeted surfaces.
You can also leave a trickle of water running out of the faucets when the temperatures outside get this low. It might add a little bit to the water bill, but it is only necessary to do this when the temperature gets below freezing, especially at night.
Taking Care of Your Sewage Damaged Home
One of the nastiest things you may ever have to do to your home is clean up the sewage left behind by a flood. You can have a professional cleaning service do this for you, but you should really be able to do this on your own unless for some reason you are physically unable or you get sick very easily. The money that you will save by doing it yourself will be substantial and this is money that you can use to purchase new clothing, furniture, or anything else you may need in the days, weeks, and months following the flood. Having the right information to help you with this is crucial, though.
The worst thing about this is that flood waters are usually contaminated with bacteria, viruses, hazardous chemicals, and sometimes even decaying bodies. Wearing protective equipment while you are in this process is essential to keep yourself from getting sick, so purchase whatever you need to. Latex gloves, disposable coveralls, and disposable foot covers are necessary. You do not want to wear porous clothing while you are doing this, because it will soak right through to your skin. A roll of duct tape should also be bought to seal up the gaps around your ankles and wrists.
Depending on whether you have someone else helping you take care of the other sewage damaged areas of the house, you will need two or more buckets. You need to keep this at an even number, because one will be used as a rinse bucket and the other will have the cleaning solution in it.
Unfortunately, you will probably not be able to save most of the upholstered furniture in your home because the padding will soak up so much of the soil, sewage, and bacteria. You can save items with small amounts of padding that can be replaced, like dining room chairs, and even take this as an opportunity to put a new pattern of fabric on them. Carpets will also probably need to be thrown away and the padding underneath them certainly will be.
Once the padding and carpet has been taken up if it was necessary in the area you are in, you should have a mop or some other cleaning utensil to use. Dip it into the cleaning solution and begin scrubbing the floor with it. Rinse it in the other bucket thoroughly before putting it back into the cleaning bucket. Do not contaminate your bucket filled with cleaner. After you get done scrubbing the whole room, you should go back over it with a disinfectant for a little extra assurance.
The worst thing about this is that flood waters are usually contaminated with bacteria, viruses, hazardous chemicals, and sometimes even decaying bodies. Wearing protective equipment while you are in this process is essential to keep yourself from getting sick, so purchase whatever you need to. Latex gloves, disposable coveralls, and disposable foot covers are necessary. You do not want to wear porous clothing while you are doing this, because it will soak right through to your skin. A roll of duct tape should also be bought to seal up the gaps around your ankles and wrists.
Depending on whether you have someone else helping you take care of the other sewage damaged areas of the house, you will need two or more buckets. You need to keep this at an even number, because one will be used as a rinse bucket and the other will have the cleaning solution in it.
Unfortunately, you will probably not be able to save most of the upholstered furniture in your home because the padding will soak up so much of the soil, sewage, and bacteria. You can save items with small amounts of padding that can be replaced, like dining room chairs, and even take this as an opportunity to put a new pattern of fabric on them. Carpets will also probably need to be thrown away and the padding underneath them certainly will be.
Once the padding and carpet has been taken up if it was necessary in the area you are in, you should have a mop or some other cleaning utensil to use. Dip it into the cleaning solution and begin scrubbing the floor with it. Rinse it in the other bucket thoroughly before putting it back into the cleaning bucket. Do not contaminate your bucket filled with cleaner. After you get done scrubbing the whole room, you should go back over it with a disinfectant for a little extra assurance.
Inspecting the House For Mold
Going through your house and looking for mold is something that every homeowner should do at least two or three times a year, especially since mold can start growing in as little as 48 hours after the spores land on something they like. Killing the mold is not the only problem you will have to deal with if you find it; removing the mold from the property is something else to be concerned with, since dead mold spores can still cause allergic reactions in some people. Depending on the severity of the allergy, these reactions can be a simple case of sneezing or as severe as requiring hospitalization. You can take antihistamines to help combat this, but no one should take medication if they do not have to.
There are a few places in your house that you need to inspect regularly for mold growth. These are areas of the house that naturally have a lot of moisture and these include the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and the basement.
The basement is somewhat humid because of its underground location, but there are things that you can do to add unnecessary humidity to it. Some people use the basement as a laundry room as well and this is fine, but you need to make sure that the dryer is properly vented to the outside of the house. Having an exhaust fan in the room will also help get rid of some of the excess moisture. One thing that you should really avoid doing at all costs is hanging up laundry to dry without proper ventilation.
The bathroom is one of the worst areas for mold in the house and this is generally due to flawed waterproofing. This could be cracked tiles on the floor, missing areas of grout or caulking, or mold growing on the ceiling because the humidity in the room is too high. This can be corrected by having an exhaust fan installed, just like in the basement. In fact, having these fans in all moist rooms of the home is recommended and the chances for mold growth will be greatly reduced.
Something to avoid having in the bathroom or another moist area of the home is carpet. Mold loves to grow in carpet and once the padding underneath it is contaminated, it has to be taken up and thrown away, because it cannot be cleaned.
The kitchen is another area where the floor and ceiling are the most at risk. Try to seal up and cracks in the flooring and make sure there is an exhaust system over the stove to get rid of steam before it hits the ceiling.
There are a few places in your house that you need to inspect regularly for mold growth. These are areas of the house that naturally have a lot of moisture and these include the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and the basement.
The basement is somewhat humid because of its underground location, but there are things that you can do to add unnecessary humidity to it. Some people use the basement as a laundry room as well and this is fine, but you need to make sure that the dryer is properly vented to the outside of the house. Having an exhaust fan in the room will also help get rid of some of the excess moisture. One thing that you should really avoid doing at all costs is hanging up laundry to dry without proper ventilation.
The bathroom is one of the worst areas for mold in the house and this is generally due to flawed waterproofing. This could be cracked tiles on the floor, missing areas of grout or caulking, or mold growing on the ceiling because the humidity in the room is too high. This can be corrected by having an exhaust fan installed, just like in the basement. In fact, having these fans in all moist rooms of the home is recommended and the chances for mold growth will be greatly reduced.
Something to avoid having in the bathroom or another moist area of the home is carpet. Mold loves to grow in carpet and once the padding underneath it is contaminated, it has to be taken up and thrown away, because it cannot be cleaned.
The kitchen is another area where the floor and ceiling are the most at risk. Try to seal up and cracks in the flooring and make sure there is an exhaust system over the stove to get rid of steam before it hits the ceiling.
Hardwood Deck Waterproofing
Every homeowner who has the space to build one in would love to have a fresh hardwood porch or one in the back to barbecue on, but those of us who already have one want to do whatever we can to protect it from the elements. Over the years your deck will suffer from different forms of precipitation and natural damage and protecting it from these is a little more difficult than from the regular wear and tear of feet running across it. Rain will cause the deck to crack and warp over time, but sealing it water tight with a chemical that can be purchased at almost any hardware or home improvement store will protect it for years to come.
The easiest way to protect your deck is by waterproofing it with a deck sealant, but you can do this yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Doing it yourself is not very difficult and you should be able to manage fine, so this is great for anyone who is on a budget, but if money is not a concern to you and your time is, hiring someone else may be the way to go.
If your deck is newly constructed, then you will want to wait at least 30 days before doing anything like this to the surface of it, since new lumber needs time to adjust to your climate and get rid of any oils and moisture that may already be inside it. If you want to put a stain on the deck, this is probably a good time to do it, since the sealant will prevent the deck from soaking up most liquids.
Clean everything off of the deck and scrub it before you do anything else, whether it’s applying the stain or the sealant. It needs to be as free of furniture, dirt, and other debris as possible. You can purchase a deck cleaning solution from your local hardware, home improvement, or department store and apply it yourself with a pump sprayer. Scrub it with a stiff bristled brush to get it as clean as you can and rinse it off with your water hose when you get finished. It is starting to look better already!
Follow the instructions on the deck sealant and this should include using a sprayer or a roller to apply it to the surface of the wood. You need to let it dry for a few days before walking on it, so start from the end of the deck furthest from a good entrance and work your way back.
The easiest way to protect your deck is by waterproofing it with a deck sealant, but you can do this yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Doing it yourself is not very difficult and you should be able to manage fine, so this is great for anyone who is on a budget, but if money is not a concern to you and your time is, hiring someone else may be the way to go.
If your deck is newly constructed, then you will want to wait at least 30 days before doing anything like this to the surface of it, since new lumber needs time to adjust to your climate and get rid of any oils and moisture that may already be inside it. If you want to put a stain on the deck, this is probably a good time to do it, since the sealant will prevent the deck from soaking up most liquids.
Clean everything off of the deck and scrub it before you do anything else, whether it’s applying the stain or the sealant. It needs to be as free of furniture, dirt, and other debris as possible. You can purchase a deck cleaning solution from your local hardware, home improvement, or department store and apply it yourself with a pump sprayer. Scrub it with a stiff bristled brush to get it as clean as you can and rinse it off with your water hose when you get finished. It is starting to look better already!
Follow the instructions on the deck sealant and this should include using a sprayer or a roller to apply it to the surface of the wood. You need to let it dry for a few days before walking on it, so start from the end of the deck furthest from a good entrance and work your way back.
Cleaning Up The Sewage From Your Home
Cleaning up the sewage in your home after it has been flooded is a pretty ugly experience, but unfortunately for some homeowners that live in parts of the United States where floods are common, it can be something that they have to go through at least once. While you can have a professional service clean up after the flood for you, you can save a substantial amount of money by doing a lot of it yourself. You can use this saved money to purchase new furniture, clothing, food, or anything else that you could need after the flood is over.
Flood waters can contain all kinds of things that can be hazardous to your health. This can include chemicals, sewage, soil, bacteria, viruses, and etcetera. These are things that you do not want to have in your home and doing your best to get them cleaned up, even if it means hiring a professional, is something you need to do. You need to purchase the protective equipment necessary to keep yourself from getting sick due to all the different things left behind by the water, but this will not be very much. You will need some latex gloves, a pair of plastic booties to cover your shoes, a roll of duct tape, and some disposable plastic coveralls. The duct tape will be used to cover the gaps between the gloves, the boots, and the suit so there is no way that the sewage can get to your skin.
There is not much that you can do to save all the furniture in your home after the flood is over. This is mainly upholstered furniture that has a lot of padding, though, so your wooden furniture should be fine. Padding in upholstered furniture will soak up the flood waters and everything that it contains, including soil, bacteria, and everything else. You can reupholster some items that have little padding and take this as an opportunity to replace fabrics that you do not care for any longer.
For the cleanup process, you will require at least two buckets, depending on whether you have someone help you clean up the rest of the house or not. Try to keep this at an even number, since you will need to work with the buckets in sets of two.
Take a mop and dip it into the bucket with the cleaning chemicals in it and begin scrubbing the floor. Scrub it thoroughly and dip the mop into the rinsing water. Do not put the mop back into the bucket with the cleaners until you rinse it first. You do not want to introduce sewage into the clean water.
Flood waters can contain all kinds of things that can be hazardous to your health. This can include chemicals, sewage, soil, bacteria, viruses, and etcetera. These are things that you do not want to have in your home and doing your best to get them cleaned up, even if it means hiring a professional, is something you need to do. You need to purchase the protective equipment necessary to keep yourself from getting sick due to all the different things left behind by the water, but this will not be very much. You will need some latex gloves, a pair of plastic booties to cover your shoes, a roll of duct tape, and some disposable plastic coveralls. The duct tape will be used to cover the gaps between the gloves, the boots, and the suit so there is no way that the sewage can get to your skin.
There is not much that you can do to save all the furniture in your home after the flood is over. This is mainly upholstered furniture that has a lot of padding, though, so your wooden furniture should be fine. Padding in upholstered furniture will soak up the flood waters and everything that it contains, including soil, bacteria, and everything else. You can reupholster some items that have little padding and take this as an opportunity to replace fabrics that you do not care for any longer.
For the cleanup process, you will require at least two buckets, depending on whether you have someone help you clean up the rest of the house or not. Try to keep this at an even number, since you will need to work with the buckets in sets of two.
Take a mop and dip it into the bucket with the cleaning chemicals in it and begin scrubbing the floor. Scrub it thoroughly and dip the mop into the rinsing water. Do not put the mop back into the bucket with the cleaners until you rinse it first. You do not want to introduce sewage into the clean water.
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